16. You further write that it was by my letters that you had been
informed that the pope Theophilus lately put forth an exposition of the
faith which has not yet reached you and you promise to accept whatever
he may have written. I am not aware that I ever said this, or that I
sent any letters of the sort. But you consent to things of which you
are still in uncertainty, and things as to which you do not know what
and of what kind they will turn out to be, so that you may avoid
speaking of things which you know quite well, and may not be bound by
the consent you have given to them. There are two letters of
Theophilus,31753175 For the years 401 and 402. See Jerome Letters 96 and
98. a Synodal and a Paschal letter,
against Origen and his disciples, and others against Apollinarius and
against Origen also, which, within the last two years or thereabouts, I
have translated and given to the men who speak our language for the
edification of the church. I am not aware that I have translated
anything else of his. But, when you say that you assent to the opinion
of the pope Theophilus in everything, you must take care not to let
your masters and disciples hear you, and not to offend these numerous
persons who call me a robber and you a martyr, and also not to provoke
the wrath of the man31763176 Isidore, the Origenist monk who was sent to inquire into the
quarrel between Jerome and John of Jerusalem. His letter written to
John and Rufinus prejudging the case, was brought by mistake to
Jerome’s friend Vincentius. See Jerome Against John of Jerusalem
c. 37. who wrote
letters to you against the bishop Epiphanius, and exhorted you to stand
fast in the truth of the faith, and not to change your opinion for any
terror. This epistle in its complete form is held by those to whom it
was brought. After this you say, after your manner: “I will
satisfy you even when you rage against me, as I have in the matter you
spoke of before.” But again you say, “What do you want?
have you anything more at which you may shoot with the bow of your
oratory?” And yet you are indignant if I find fault with your
distasteful way of speaking, though you take up the lowest expressions
of the Comedians, and in writing on church affairs adopt language fit
only for the characters of harlots and their lovers on the
stage.

3176 Isidore, the Origenist monk who was sent to inquire into the
quarrel between Jerome and John of Jerusalem. His letter written to
John and Rufinus prejudging the case, was brought by mistake to
Jerome’s friend Vincentius. See Jerome Against John of Jerusalem
c. 37.